150 It's not that
Brian drove to Lirael's, taking a route that widely went around our stupid shadow so he did not find out where we were. We were silent after the doctors office, letting the news sink in. I placed my hand on my stomach, rubbing it in anticipation. We park in the garage of Lirael's house and close the garage door before entering through the kitchen.
"Hey you two. How did your appointment go?" Lirael asks as she offers another bite of food to Richard who's sitting in his high chair smacking the tray in front of him and making noises.
Sarina giggles and takes a seat next to Lirael, giving her a quick little hug and kiss on the head for Richie.
I sigh and speak up, "You can't say anything to Lance. I want to tell him."
Lirael looks confused pausing her spoonful halfway between her and Richie who has bent over with his mouth open trying to reach the food.
"Tell him wh...at?!" Richie reaches out and grips the spoon from her hold and sticks it into his mouth. She looks a little dumbstruck at Richie who's smiling with green, pureed, food dripping out of his mouth.
"Well then." Lirael shakes her head as she laughs, "You want to feed yourself?" She asks Richie who just smiles and makes nonsensical noises. Lirael places the little bowl of food in front of him and lets him try to feed himself.
"I'm sorry. You were saying?" Lirael wipes her hands off with a towel next to her and turns to Sarina who hands her the picture from the ultrasound.
She picks it up, analyzing the picture, "Okay, let's see what we have here.." She smiles and sets down the picture, covering her mouth. "Oh wow. Is this what I think it is?" She starts to tear up as she looks between the two of us.
We both nod. "It sure is. Now you see why I want to tell him?"
"Oh my goodness!" Lirael jumps up and hugs Sarina and then me. "You've got to be shitting me! Twins! Oh wow! Congratulations!" She jumps excitedly around. "Oh I'm so happy for you both!"
Lirael wipes happy tears that have worked out of her eyes as me and Sarina watch chuckling at her reaction but joining in her joy for us.
The front door opens and we hear Lance come through calling out, "Lirael! Did Brian and Sarina show... up? Hey guys." He rounds the corner and is slightly surprised we're already here and Lirael is wiping tears from her eyes.
"Lirael? Is something wrong?" He asks looking around at all of our faces, but sighs when he sees that Richie has become a Jackson Pollock painting in green that can smile.
"Come with me man. I want to talk to you." I motion for him to join me out on the back porch.
"Sure let me grab a water first." Lance joins me on the back porch and sits down with me on the porch swing.
"So what's up? Did something happen with the medical boards investigation?" He takes a deep drink from his water as I gather my thoughts on how I can fuck with him.
"We were at the doctors earlier and got some news." I start.
"That's right you were supposed to find out the sex of the baby today. Is it a girl?"
I shake my head at him, keeping my face as blank as possible.
"So it's a boy!" He smacks his thigh but his face drops as I shake my head again.
"What it's not a boy or a girl...? Wait... No... Brian, man..." His face starts to fall and wraps an arm around my shoulder. "Don't worry man. I'm sure you guys can try again..."
I shake my head at him again, having to look away as my shoulders shake from me trying to stifle my smile. "It's not that." I struggle to turn my face back to him.
He looks confused but see's the amusement on my face.
"I guess twins run in Sarina's family." I finally get out.
Realization replaces the confusion and his frown slowly turns into a wide smile before he breaks into laughter. "Holy shit! Congratulations!" He throws an arm around my shoulders and pulls me in tight.
"TWINS! You are going to have your work cut out for you man! Oh wow!" He's smiling widely for me, basking in my joy with me. "I'm so happy for you man."
"Thank you, brother." I place my arm around his shoulders, laughing with him.
"I can't believe they didn't see you were having twins prior to this?!" Lance lets go of my shoulder and runs his hand through his hair.
"The doctor said it can happen depending on where they are located within the womb. Now that they're bigger and moving around they couldn't help but be seen." I shrug to him, repeating what the doctor had told us.
"So did you find out the sex?" Lance asks.
"Yes." I grin at him, keeping him in suspense.
"Well? Are you going to tell me or not? Asshole?" Lance shoves my shoulder as I laugh at him.
"Keep your panties on geez. It's both."
"Both?" Lance's mouth is hung open with his brow furrowed, "Like both same sex or both sexes?"
I chuckle again at him and shake my head, "Both sexes."
"You two look absolutely adorable, smiling and laughing out here together." Lirael walks out with a now clean Richard and Sarina.
"Congratulations!" Lance jumps up and hugs Sarina who laughs and says thank you.
"Did you guys think of any names yet?" Lirael asks me as she hands Richard off to me to hold.
"Yes. We did."
She looks expectantly towards me and Sarina. Sarina sighs and smiles at her widely.
"Vincent David and Eliana Lirael."
Lirael covers her mouth and tears form in her eyes. "Really?"
We both nod and she flings her arms around Sarina, "Thank you, but why me?"
"Why not you?" Sarina scoffs. "If it wasn't for you, I may have never met Brian. Even with my brother wanting to introduce us it may have never happened. I was seriously hesitating to go visit David to meet this Doctor he told me about."
"Well, thank you... both. This means a lot to me." Lirael hugs Sarina again and gives me a warm tear filled smile as she does.
"So do twins really run in your family? I thought it was just women who make twins not guys?" Lirael asks, taking a seat on one of the chairs.
"The doctor said it could have been hyper-ovulation from getting off the birth control and my hormones acting up." Sarina shrugs, "But she did say we needed to keep a very close eye on me and my health. Twins can be really hard on the body. Good thing I have Alyssa to inform me of her experiences that I do not already know about."
Checking the time I have to ask, "So what was it that the investigator found that may help my situation?"
Lance and Lirael exchange glances and Lirael takes Richard from me. Lance takes his seat again while Sarina sits next to Lirael.
"Turns out, one of the medical board members is invested in some business deals with Marcus and his father. The same board member that pushed your investigation forward. Which makes one of the board members unable to sit on the board as it's a conflict of interest. Not only is it a conflict of interest, but because he's the one who pushed it forward, you could push to have this dropped over bias and abuse of authority." Lance pulls out his phone. "He's recorded video and audio of them chatting it up at the golf course. He was able to convince the golf caddy to wear a wire and camera. Well, actually he said the caddy was more than happy to wear it. I guess the guy was done working there and those guys are 'assholes'."
I sigh, "Well that certainly helps me out. Can you send the evidence to me so I can send it to my lawyer?"
"Sure thing. You look like you're anxious man. What's up?" Lance leans towards me in question.
I shrug, "Just this whole situation with the medical board has been trying. Even with good information and evidence being built up for the lawyers, I just... I don't know..."
Sarina reaches over and takes my hand in hers and I give her a weak smile.
"I mean, Sarina wanted to get a bigger home and because of all this, we've had to hold off."
"You know I don't care that much about buying a different home. It can wait." Sarina reminds me.
"I know, I just feel like I'm failing you. Even though I know I shouldn't, I still am struggling not going after that fucker myself for causing problems. It's taken a toll on me."
I shake off the feeling of anger and helplessness that threatens to creep over me and smile, "There are a few things though that keep me from succumbing to those feelings. Now, there's an extra one to add to the mix." I wink at Sarina.
Her beaming smile at me is all I need to finish lifting my spirits again. She's glowing with joy and I wouldn't let anything keep me from enjoying that smile.